National Judicial Policy Development Committee approves judicial austerity and energy saving plan
Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chairs a meeting of the National Judicial Committee (Policy Making) at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday. Photo: Supreme Court of Pakistan
In line with austerity measures announced by the government due to disruption in supply of petroleum products, the Supreme Court of Pakistan also announced similar measures on Tuesday, adopting a four-day working week from Monday to Thursday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier announced a number of measures as part of a broader austerity plan aimed at handling the situation resulting from the fuel crisis linked to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East following the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. At a meeting attended by representatives from the federal and provincial governments, the premier announced a four-day work week and a work-from-home policy as part of sweeping austerity measures.
According to a statement issued by the Supreme Court, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) met under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi in an emergent virtual meeting.
The meeting, attended by the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariah Court, Chief Justices of all high courts and the Attorney General of Pakistan by special invitation, approved a “comprehensive strategy of judicial austerity and energy conservation” aimed at ensuring responsible use of national resources while maintaining uninterrupted access to justice across the country.
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“This reflects the institution’s proactive response to the anticipated disruption in oil supplies and rising global energy costs, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to national resilience and institutional accountability. »
Recognizing that the justice sector must lead by example in times of economic and energy uncertainty, “the NJPMC has decided that the courts of Pakistan will adopt a series of practical measures designed to reduce fuel consumption, limit operational costs and promote efficient use of resources without compromising the administration of justice,” the statement said.
The committee emphasized that these measures represented the judicial branch’s institutional commitment to prudent governance, environmental responsibility, and solidarity with the broader national effort to conserve public energy and resources.
“By adopting these measures across the judiciary, the NJPMC has reaffirmed that access to justice will remain uninterrupted, even as the judiciary aligns its internal operations with the principles of efficiency, sustainability and responsible management,” the Supreme Court press release said.
Following the meeting, the apex court issued a notification announcing the measures with immediate effect.
“In view of the likely disruption in the supply of petroleum products leading to rising energy costs, it is imperative to adopt prudent and responsible measures to conserve resources,” the notification said.
According to the guidelines, the court will observe a four-day working week (Monday to Thursday) to reduce fuel consumption and operational expenses. “The court will observe public holidays from Friday to Sunday,” it adds.
However, while ensuring that urgent judicial and administrative functions continue without interruption on Fridays and Saturdays, courts may take necessary internal governance measures, taking into account their operational priorities.
Similarly, the district courts would work four days a week (Monday to Thursday) at full capacity, while the respective high courts would keep their human resources at bare minimum on Fridays and Saturdays, in line with the workload and performance criteria.
The notification said the monthly Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants (POL) cap allocated to judges and authorized officers would be reduced by 50 per cent, while additional security or protocol vehicles would be prohibited.
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“No additional protocols or security vehicles will be deployed while traveling in the designated high security zones,” the notification said, adding that the affected districts must ensure security of the routes in accordance with the required protocols.
The court also encouraged litigants and lawyers to participate in proceedings via video link where possible, as well as rotating staff in the courts.
“Rotational attendance arrangements for staff, where possible, to minimize travel to and from work and reduce energy consumption while maintaining the essential functions of the court,” it adds.
In its statement, the Supreme Court also announced similar measures for the Federal Sharia Court and high courts.
“The monthly POL ceiling allocated to honorable judges of the Federal Sharia Court and high courts will be reduced by 50%, while that of judicial officers by 25%,” he specifies.
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The court also streamlined security and protocol for the Federal Shariah Court and high courts, but allowed an exception in view of the recent security situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“While the Federal Shariah Court and high courts will streamline security and protocol, the honorable judges and judicial officers posted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan will maintain their security as circumstances dictate.”
